Combined manual night-watch fire-alarm box



March 29, 1927 w. s. LUDLOW, JR

COMBINED MANUAL NIGHT WATCH FIRE ALARM BOX SSheets-Shet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1922 March 29, 1927. w. a LUDLOW JR ,457

COMBINED MANUAL NIGHT WATCH FIRE ALARM BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5Q, 1922 March 29', 1927 1,622,457

W. S. LUDLOW, JR

COMBINED MANUAL NIGHT WATCH FIRE ALARM BOX Filed Jan. as, 1.922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w, W Mr W CENTRAL STAT/0 V Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

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WALTER S. LUDLOVI, JR., OF CINCINNATI OHIO.

COMBINED MANUAL NIGHT-PATCH FIRE-ALARM BOX.

Application filed January 80, 1922. Serial No. 532,552.

My invention relates to the construction and operation of the mechanism of alarm or call boxes, such as are used in signalling systems, designed to register at a central station, by bells or by lights, or by both, the calls or signal numbers of a plurality of such call boxes located at points distant from the said central station.

The construction of my signalling mechanism is particularly adaptable to use in fire or police signalling systems, in which call boxes areplaced, in factories, stores, private residences, etc., all at a distance from the central station, or fire-house, a plurality of said call boxes being conveniently located, as in the case of a manufacturing plant, at various points throughout the building or buildings, and each box having two numbers, one corresponding to the beat number of the watchman or policeman. and the other a fire call, indicating the exact location of a particular call box, a list of such boxes and their location by number being furnished for the use of those in charge at a central station. Each box is provided with means for transmitting the call numbers, the mechanism for performing that operation forming the main portion of the subject matter of this application.

An object of my invention is to provide, in a single call box, means for the separate and independent transmission of two distinct calls or signals, to a central station, one, a watchmans or policemans beat call, and the other a fire call oralarm.

Another object is to provide for the trans mission of a combined fire alarm call and watchmans or policemans call, by the operation of a single fire lever.

Another object is to provide for the trans mission of a, watchmans or policemans beat call or signal independently of a combined fire alarm and beat call.

Another object is to provide means for preventing a broken circuit in the signal line, when the mechanism of any one of the series of call boxes is dismantled or disconnected for purposes of repair, or adjustment.

Other objects and certain advantages will appear in the description, and special reference is'made to the drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of my improved call or alarm box, showing in dot-and-dash lines the positions. of the fire or emergency lever and of the Watchmans or policemans lever, after being pulled to signalling position.

Figure 2 is a plan section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the call mechanism'being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is an inside elevation of the detached box cover, showing the call mechanism mounted thereupon.

Figure l is a detail vertical section on line 4.& of Fig. 3, showing the position of the signal, call, or circuit-breaking disks and cam-plate when set to give a fire signal, and showing diagrammatically one form of signalling circuit of which my improved call box forms an element.

Figure 5 is a detail section showing the mounting of the signal, call, or circuitbreaking disks.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing the electrical-switch connection between the call box mechanism and the main line.

Figure 7 is a detail section on line 77 of Fig. 1, showing the mounting of the call levers upon the spring shaft of the clock mechanism.

In carrying out my invention I provide a box or casing 1, preferably of cylindrical formation, having a closed end or base 2, and an opposite open end or side, provided with a removable cover 3, upon the inner face of which is mounted the caller alarm transmitting mechanism. The casing 1 is provided with suitable vertically aligned threaded bores 2 (one only of which is herein shown) into which the ends of the conduit tubes may be screwed, for the reception and housing of the electrical wiring. The inner periphery of the casing is provided with inwardly directed spacing lugs 4, having screw threaded sockets therein for the reception of fastening screws 5, traversing openings in the cover 3, the ends of the spacing lugs t entering notches 6, of an annular v rib 7, of the cover, as a means for definitely positioning the call mechanism, mounted upon said cover, in relation to the switch block, mounted upon the casing 1.

The cover 3 is centrally bored for extending the clock winding shaft 10 therethrough to the exterior side of the cover for the reception of the hand operated call levers. Theshaft is journaled within a clock frame comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates 11 united, into a frame structure for journalling and supporting the various parts of the clock mechanism. This frame structure 1s secured to the inside of the cover by screws 3 threaded with the lugs 9 projecting from the cover. The clock mechanism may be of any conventional type as generally employed in devices of this type. The clock mecha nism shown comprises a spur gear 12, loosely mounted upon the shaft 10, and in toothed engagement with a. pinion 13, carried by the shaft 14. A second spur gear 15, carried by the shaft 14, engages a pinion 16, of the escapcment wheel shaft 17, this shaft also carrying the escapement wheel 18, which is engaged by the pallets 19 of the escapcmcnt lever 20, mounted upon the shaft 21, said shaft having the usual balance device 22 attached thereto. Mounted rigidly upon the shaft 10, and sliding against one face of the gear 12, is a ratchet disk 23, the teeth of which are engageable with a spring pressed pawl 24, mounted upon the gear 12. The spiral spring 25, attached at one end to the shaft 10, and at its'opposite end to the strut 26, acts to rotate the shaft 10 and pawl and ratchet to operate the clock mechanism in a wellknown manner, the shaft 10 being rotated to wind the spring, with each operating stroke of the hand lovers.

The shaft 10 projects beyond the innermostcasing plate 11, and carries a cam plate 27, the plate being fixed to the shaft and providing a cam finger 28, of arcuate form, and concentric with the axis of the shaft 10. The finger 28 is deflected toward and to within a short distance of the adjacent casing plate 11, to provide a concentric inclined surface for engagement with the hub 29, of the fire-call disk or breakwheel 30, to laterally shift the same upon its shaft for throwing the breakwheel into cooperation with the switch lever of the signal transmitting mechanism.

The cam plate 27 is provided with a second finger 31, the peripheral edge 32 of the outer depressed end 33 of which, engages, under certain conditions, the outer free end 34 of a catch-spring 35, attached as at 36, to one of the clock casing-plates 11.

Upon an extension 14 of the disk-shaft 14, are slidingly mounted two call-disks or signal transmitting breakwheels, one as a fire-call disk 30, having; formed upon one of its faces the circular hub 29 and upon the inner face of the hub 29, a second reduced hub extension 38, which initially bears against the face of the casing plate 11, (see Fig. 5), the upper face of the catch-spring 35 being in yielding contact with the periphery of the hub 37 Upon the opposite face of disk 30 is formed a relatively long hub extension 45, (see Figs. 4 and 5), diametrically slotted as at 46, at its outer end, and a watchmans or policemans call-disk, a general signal transmitting breakwheel 47 is slipped over said hub extension 45 and against a spacing collar 48, designed to properly space the two disks 30 and 4'? as shown; screws 45) are then inserted to fasten the disks in predetermined relation to one another. A pin 50 traverses the slots 46 and extension 14 of the shaft 14, rotativcly connecting the disks to the shaft and permitting the disks to be shifted laterally against the action of a coiled spring 51, surrounding the outer end of the extension 14, and interposed between the end of the hub 45 and a washer or collar 52 held upon the shaft by a cross pin Each disk is provided on its periphery with teeth 54, the number and spacing of the same, appropriate for definite signal indication. The two signal or brealnvheels employed are out for transmitting signals distinctive from one another. The teeth of each breakwheel when in their signal transmitting position successively trip an electrical circuit-breaking or switch lever 70, by making contact with the downwardly turned end 71 of the short arm of the said lever, this lever being pivoted as at 72, to a leaf spring arm 73 mounted upon and projecting from an insulating block 74, said block being suitably attached to the plate 11 by screws 75. The outer end of the long arm 7 0 of the lever 70 operates to make and break the electrical contact with flexible switch fingers 78 and 7 9, suitably insulated from one another by the block 80, the finger 78 being mounted upon the outer side of the block 80, and the finger 79 between the blocks 74 and 80. (See Fig. 6.)

The switch being designed for closed circuit services, under normal conditions, is engaged between and in contact with the switch fingers 78, 7 9, and is tripped by the breakwheels for making and breaking the circuit for a signal transmission. A spring 82, attached to the arm 70 forces the outer end of this arm between the terminals and against a stop pin 83 to limit its upward movement, the sharp impacts of the lever arm with this pin producing audible sounds or clicks for locally determining whether the signal transmission is being made. This may be further augmented by the flashing of a light adjacent each call-box and in electrical oircuittherewith, as a visible means for making known the call and box number.

The metallic spring fingers 78 and 79 are provided with contact posts, respectively '78 and 79, to which the main line connections are removably made within the box. The contact or terminal posts respectively contact with flexible arms 78 79 mounted upon an insulating block attached upon the inside surface of the back of the box or casing 1. A binding screw on each spring arm forms a means for clamping the con ductor wires and 101, of a plug line 102,

connected with a female plug member 103, which makes electrical connection with a companion male plug member 104, one wire 105 of which connects with one terminal of a lamp socket 107, and the other wire 106 with a wall plug 108, a wire 109 connecting with the wall plug and second terminal of the lamp socket, as shown. My call-boxes are connected in series in a main line 115, the central station being indicated at 116.

As shown in Fig. 6, the contact of the posts 78 and 7 9 with the spring arms 78 and 79" holds the said spring arms in flexed position, out of contact with the head 91, of a screw, having threaded engagement with the block 90, the shank 91 of said Screw lying between the said spring arms, without contacting them; and arcuate notches 92 are provided, (see Fig. 4) in the opposing edges of said spring arms, to prevent such contact. )Vhen, however, the cover 3 and its connected call mechanism is removed for the purposes of repair or adjustment, the spring arms 78 and 79" are released, and come in contact with the head 91, to complete the main line circuit and prevent interference with calls from other boxes along the line. The main line closed circuit is thus automatically completed and maintained upon the removal of the call or clock mechanism. The shaft 10 is extended through the cover 3, and projects therebeyond for the reception of the call levers, respectively, a fire lever 4:1 and watchmans lever 50, each lever being loosely and rotatively placed on said shaft and normally positioned as shown (see Fig. 1), the fire lever resting against an out standing stop lug 411", and the watchmans lever against a similar lug 50", the lugs acting to limit the lever movement in both directions of travel. The fire lever is locked and sealed as shown at 120, and the seal wire passing about the lever and through an opening in the lug l1".

In order to allow independent movement of each lever, and at the same time to provide for the winding of the spring shaft by the action of each, I provide an arm 121, rigidly attached to the outer end of the shaft 10, and held in position against the outer face of the fire lever and upon said shaft by a headed screw 122.

also provide an extension 123 of the watchmans lever, the upper face of which is normally flush with the upper face of the fire lever (see Figs. 2 and 7). The arm 121 is provided wit-h a right angle extension 12 1, which overlies both the fire lever and the extension 123 of the watchmans lever. By an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the movement of each lever will operate against the extension 123 to rotate the shaft 10 and to wind the spring thereof, setting the cam plate 27 in correspondence to the lever movements.

A description of the operation of my call mechanism follows.

When the watchmans lever is rotated in a clockwise direction, (see Fig. 1), the shaft 10 acts to wind the spring of the clock mechanism and upon the release of said lever, the call-disks make one complete revolution, and, the watchmans disk only, transmits the beat number 13 during the travel of the lever in the opposite direction to its initial position. In case of fire, the fire lever seal is broken, and that lever rotated also in a clockwise direction through an arc of approximately 180 to and a ainst the stop lug 50 the spring being wound, and the camplate and cam finger 28 being rotated, to first bring said inclined finger against the inner face of the hub 29, to throw the fire disk in alignment with the downwardly turned end 71 of the circuit breaking lever (see Fig. 4). The position ofthe cam-plate 27 and cam-linger 28, after the fire lever has been thrown, is shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3. lVhen the call-disks have been thrown to their outward limit against the action of the spring 51, and when the periph cry of the fire disk is aligned with the downturned end of the lever 70, the catch-spring 35 assumes the position shown in Figs. land 5, between the inner face of the hub 29 and the casing plate 11, to hold the disks in their displaced positionduring the counter rotation of the cam-plate and release of the cam finger, after the release of the fire lever. The fire disk then makes two rotations, twice transmitting the call number 535, and after the second number transmission, the peripheral edge 32, of the finger 33, of the cam-plate 27, contacts the outer end of the catch-spring 35, (see the dot-and-dash line position of spring 35, Fig. 3), throwing the same downwardly and from its position between the hub 29 and plate 11, to release the call-disks and allow their return to their initial position under the action of the spring 51, to bring the watchmans call disk in alignment with the lever 70, after which operation the continued rotation of the disk shaft, once transmits the watchmans call number 13.

It will be seen that by the arrangement of call-disks herein described, two transmissions of the fire call are made, and one transmission of the watchmans call, giving a check upon the numbers, and avoiding the possibility of a mistake at the central station, in locating a given call-box.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An electric signal transmitting device, comprising a transmission mechanism, signal circuit controlling wheels operated by said transmission mechanism for distinguishable signal circuit control, signal circuit make and break mechanism operable by a selected one of said wheels, manually operable levers for controlling said transmission mechanism, each for a selective wheel cooperation with said circuit make and break mechanism, and means operative with said transmission mechanism for moving said wheels respectively into and out of co operation with said circuit make and break mechanism.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame, a shaft journaled in said fran'ie, a pair of toothed wheels rotating with and axially slidableupon said shaft, electric circuit make and break mechanism adapted to normally cooperate with one of said wheels, a pair of hand levers mounted upon said shaft, each adapted to independently rotate said shaft in limited degree, and cam means fixed upon said shaft for sliding said wheels with the oscillation of one of said levers for transferring the wheel cooperation with electric circuit make and break mechanism from one to a second.

3. An electric signal call-box, con'iprising a clock transmission mechanism, electric cir cuit break wheels operated by said clock mechanism, a circuit make and break device adapted to be operated by said break wheels, manually operable levers movable about a common axis of said clock mechanism, each lever operating within definite are limits and in non-interfering position, and rotative means operative with said clock mecha nism for transferring the respective cooperation of said break wheels with said circuit make and break devices through the operation of one of said levers.

a. An electric signal call-box comprising transmission mechanism, a plurality of hand operated transmission controlling members respectively and selectively operable for setting and operating said transmission mechanism for distinguishable signalling, electric signal circuit make and break means, and

rotative means actuating said circuit make and break means, one for each of said hand operated members operated by said trans mission means, and shifter means for alternat-ely, automatically shifting said rotativc means respectively into and out of cooperation with said circuit make and break means, during an operative cycle of the transmission mechanism.

An electric signal call-box, comprising a casing, clock transmission mechanism mounted mithin said casing, having a main shaft with one end extending through the front wall of the casing, a pair of hand levers mounted upon said shaft in non-interfering positions, each having a limited are movement for independently setting said clock transmission mechanism into motion, a pair of electric circuit controlling wheels translatable on said shaft for distinguishable signal transmission, electric circuit controlling means norn'ially in cooperation with the first of said wheels, and means for translating said wheels to bring a second thereof into cooperation with said circuit cont-rolling means through the manipulation of a selective one of said hand levers.

6. In an electric signal transmitting device, a pair of electric circuit break wheels for distinguishable signal transmissiomelectrio circuit controlling means actuated by said break wheels, a rotative cam for shifting said wheels during a portion of an operating cycle of the device for bringing said wheels alternately into cooperation with said electric circuit controlling means, and a pair of hand levers for respectively rotating said cam in different degrees.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

l/VALTER S. LUDLOVV, J n. 

